Elena Rybakina is nearly unstoppable when she’s in peak form. Ekaterina Alexandrova learned that the hard way Sunday in Ningbo.
Rybakina rallied from a set down — winning nine consecutive games between the second and third sets — to claim the 2025 AUX · Ningbo Open title, defeating Alexandrova 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 in just under two hours.
The win marks Rybakina’s milestone 10th career WTA title and her second of the season, both at the WTA 500 level.
It’s her third straight victory in a WTA final and moves her one step closer to qualifying for the year-end WTA finals in Riyadh. She now heads to Tokyo, where she must reach at least the semifinals to overtake Mirra Andreeva for the final spot. Otherwise, she’ll enter only as the first alternate.
“Thank you so much to my team for always pushing me to be better,” Rybakina said during the trophy presentation. “Especially at the end of the season, it’s not easy, but without you I would not be here. So, thanks again, and hopefully we can push a little more next week.”
More to come…